Following a £12m investment, all 7,400 vehicles are now fitted with the technology
Stagecoach has completed its switch to contactless payment on all of its vehicles across the UK.
Contactless technology was introduced in the UK in 2007, and figures show that almost two-thirds of the population now use contactless payments.
The switch comes after a £12m investment for customers, making Stagecoach the single largest contactless transit merchant in Europe outside of London, with 7,400 vehicles now equipped with contactless technology.
The scheme, launched across East Scotland by Michael Matheson, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Transport Infrastructure and Connectivity, gives millions of Stagecoach passengers access to contactless bus travel.
Discussing the scheme, Michael said: “Contactless payment has quickly become a standard method of payment for many people and this investment by Stagecoach provides a simple and more convenient payment method for customers.
“By completing this national roll out to transition to contactless payment, I’m pleased to see Stagecoach making it even easier for people to travel across Scotland and beyond, whether purchasing on the bus, through an application or via tickets on their smartcard.”
Stagecoach reported that already around a fifth of all on-bus transactions are being made via contactless payments.
Mark Threapleton, Stagecoach UK Bus Managing Director for England and Wales, said: “Along with traditional cash payments, our StagecoachSmart card and mobile ticketing through our Stagecoach Bus smartphone app, we are giving customers choice about how they want to buy their travel and making it even easier and more convenient to travel by bus.
“We now look forward to exploring the other ticketing options that this technology will allow us to deliver in the future for our passengers.”
